2222 Wellington Ct., Lisle 60532, 708-969-4550
– Founded: 1938
– Fiscal year-end: June 30
– Chief executive
Frederick A. Krehbiel, 50, since 1988
1991 cash compensation: $307,416
Shares owned: 2.1 million of 24.9 million common shares and 20,854 of 94,255 Class B shares
– Employees: 6,956; about 1,000 in Illinois
– Foreign sales: 75 percent of $708 million total in 1991
– May 1, 1992, value of $1,000 in company stock:
Purchased May 1, 1991: $1,148
Purchased May 1, 1987: $1,576
– Molex, which manufactures electronic connectors, ribbon cable, switches and application tooling, may be one of America`s most international companies. Its annual report is printed in Japanese, German, French and Chinese, as well as English. It operates 50 plants in 20 countries, offering 30,000 products through a network of direct sales, distribution and manufacturers`
representatives.
– The company, controlled by the founding Krehbiel family, ranks second in the $17.6 billion world electronic connector industry-a market that grew by 4.3 percent in 1991. However, 1991 also was the first year that the company failed to record at least a 10 percent after-tax profit on sales (it was 9.1 percent).
– Like many U.S. manufacturers, it is continuing to reduce the number of suppliers it uses and is forming closer working relationships with those it is using. In essence, the suppliers are being made part of Molex`s production process, a move geared to ensuring quality, timely delivery and competitive pricing.
